Have you recently been through the design process with your designer, complete with stunning design boards, only to find an oddly similar chair at a high-end furniture retailer? That could totally happen, but it's the details you don't see that tell the whole story.
Today we're diving into the differences between retail quality and designer/trade-level quality furniture, and why it's worth your time and money to prioritize quality pieces, especially seating!
Retail Quality or Custom Quality Furniture
Something that a normal consumer may not realize is that a chair that looks very similar to a designer/trade-only chair has been purposely 'value-engineered' to achieve that lower price point, while still maintaining the desired aesthetic of the consumer.
That could mean that the shape of the frame is similar, but a softer wood species has been used to create it, and then stained or painted to resemble the hardwood counterparts that you may find in your designer's design presentation. The dovetail joinery may be replaced with screws and wood glue, or the fabric chosen isn't a stain-resistant performance fabric. The raw parts are imported to save a few dollars per piece, and the cushion fill isn't the most resilient. Or more than likely - the piece is more machine-made than handmade to cut down on labor costs...and that labor is typically overseas operating in very-less-than-ideal environmental conditions. Chairs and sofas you find in major retailers are mass-produced to fit the largest demographic, so there's already an inherent sense of compromise in choosing something there - value-engineered framing, a set number of fabrics, no fill choices, limited leg finishes, etc. You get the picture. I hope.
Benchmade, or handmade, furniture is a dying art, but we proudly support vendors who still recognize the inherent quality and pride that comes from building pieces with your hands. I was recently at High Point visiting our favorite vendors, and I noticed two gentlemen walking around one of the showrooms, absolutely beaming and taking it all in. I could tell they weren't buyers because they lacked the credentials all of us are made to wear. I asked our showroom guide who they were, and they said "oh, those are two of the guys who hand-make these pieces back at the factory, and they love seeing them all dolled up and on display!" Their pride was apparent and so appreciated. After all, a machine can't tell you that a piece needs one more light pass of sanding on that one spot, or what wood plank to choose to make that arm look seamless.
Remember that the next time you walk into a furniture store at the local mall or shopping center and think you've found the perfect dupe! Sometimes it makes sense to choose the lower quality item because you want to invest in something elsewhere in the room, but I do suggest that you prioritize your most used seating in your budget, as these will have the highest touch points/room for failure in joints and fabric wear and tear. And if you are allocating budget towards those pieces, invest in going as custom as possible! The beauty of working with a designer is that a custom workroom can make a chair to exactly the specifications that make sense for you and your body type.
Bottom line: Only you can answer if the perceived cost savings is worth the loss of quality, craftsmanship, and customization when you buy from a big box store. I completely understand that sometimes retail might work for a fast cheap solution but if you're an individual looking for unique, high quality pieces that can be tailor made to your very specific wants and needs, custom is where it's at.
It's worth mentioning that the ordering process and logistics of delivery are completely handled by your full service designer, whereas you are on the hook if you buy straight from retail. It's definitely something to ask yourself if any perceived cost savings will offset the inevitable headaches, delays, reselections, reships, pickups, and delivery chaos you will have to dodge with retail purchasing...all reasons why I refuse to step one foot on the retail route. It never ends well.
Any questions? Feel free to reach out to us here!
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